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“Does Drew Daniels have a care in the world? A single one?” She gazes up at me, her hair a halo of curls now that it’s mostly dry.
How easily she went back to her happy status quo. Her face is upturned, all the makeup washed away. She’s young and beautiful. And apparently, at one time she thought I could be a hero.
She must see something in my expression because hers goes serious.
“Thereissomething wrong in Drew’s world!” She leans over, her hand covering mine. “I confessed to you. It’s your turn. Tell me one.”
I don’t think I will say it, but then the words tumble out. “I’ve never been in a relationship.” It comes out like a bark, and she recoils as if I’ve yelled at her.
“Whoa,” she says. “No need to holler.” She faces me, straddling the cot. “But you go on dates. Franklin says you do that, like alot.”
“One each. That’s enough.”
“No second dates. Hmm. Why is that, Drew Daniels? No woman lives up to your standards?”
I’ve said too much. Now this minx wants an explanation.
I reach for something to say. She’s definitely not getting the truth. “It doesn’t work out.”
She leans in. “Who decides? You or them?”
A low growl forms in my throat. “I scare them.”
She isn’t the least bit surprised. “Of course you do. You growl more than a hungry bear.”
It’s true.
“I don’t remember you being this bad in high school,” she says.
I shrug.
“What made Drew become a grump?” She taps a finger on her lower lip, and I have to tear my gaze away from that pouty mouth. “Did some girlfriend break your heart when you were young? I don’t remember you dating anyone long term.”
“I did not.”
“Do you compare these women to your mom?”
“No.”
I stare at the door, but Ensley is all ready to analyze me. “Face me, Drew Daniels. Look me in the eye and tell me why you don’t do second dates.”
I clamp my jaw. When I don’t turn my face, she puts her damn hand on my chin to force me to meet her gaze. Her touch is electric. The solitude, the sight of her, the storm—it’s adding up to something I better resist.
I want to lash out at her, to growl.
“Drew, are you afraid to look at me?” Our knees bump, and my body reacts, bringing back all the visions from this night. The fallendress. The sheer bra and panties. Her terror when the glass fell. Her body cradled against me.
I let her turn my face to hers, keeping myself under tight control as her shiny gray eyes meet mine.
“What is it, Drew? Are you scared of little ol’ us? Teensy weensy girls you could break in half?”
“Of course I am.” My voice is a surly rumble. “All my best buds fell one by one, forgetting anything existed but their precious girlfriends. Everything that mattered before. Gone.”
Her face shifts instantly. “But you’re here for Franklin. For hiswedding.”
“It’s what best buds do.” I can’t explain it. I shouldn’t even try.
“So you decided never to fall for that,” she says. “And even if you go on a first date and like the woman, you don’t let it go any further.”
